How old would you let your daughter start shaving her legs

[tumdedum]

We are a fair skinned dark haired kind of family. My daughter is only 8 and is already very self conscious of her hairy legs. She says none of her friends have hairy legs. She wears shorts for PE, but otherwise it will be more of an issue in the summer months.
I'm obviously not going to let her start shaving yet, but what age is it a good time to start do you think?

Any age that they start being self conscious but I would do it for her

I taught my daughter at 8 because she was very self conscious and other girls were being mean. She had already started her periods by then so I felt it was fine. It's up to the individual surely? I can barely be bothered with shaving these days.

I would look at hair remover cream or an electric shaver for her as rather than a razor.
She's very young but she's told you that's she's self conscious so help her, it's not your legs.

If your daughter has come to you about the hair on her legs, it's a big issue for her. Help her.

Firstly 'let her' ?

Secondly, not sure why it's such an issue on them shaving their legs? Yes they should HAVE to shave their legs if they don't want to but I also don't think there's an age restriction on it?
I find it strange people think there is, almost like sexualising it

Your daughter is her own person, and it's her body, and it's just leg hair. It's bothering her so help her, FGS. She's 12, not 2. You are setting a very bad precedent for your relationship with her.

It the issue is really upsetting her I would let her shave but try an electric razor first.

Her legs her choice. Dd has been shaving from a similar age. Hairy and a gymnast didn’t go hand in hand for her.

I can remember this discussion in my house and my sibling seemed to think they could control when I should be allowed to shave my legs!!! All I remember is thinking they were my bloody legs to do with what I wanted.

With that said I was more like 13 than 8.

8 is way too young.

I have recently supported my DD 11 to bleach her top lip but would really discourage shaving legs and pits.

When she becomes self conscious about I will steer towards hair removal cream to start with.

My Dd is pale but has dark body hair and it really stands out. I’ve been shaving her legs and arms since she was about 7 because she was so embarrassed about it and other children were making fun of her. It got to the point where she refused to take off her school cardigan and would wear tights even in the summer so I just thought fuck this I’m not having her suffering in the hot weather nor having her getting bullied over it.

She knows body hair is normal, I don’t shave at all, so she’s sees it on me. I have always told her body hair is nothing to be ashamed of but I’ve also told her it’s up to people what they choose to do with it. She doesn’t want body hair so I’ll help her safely remove it.

I didn't even let my daughter. She just went out and bought razors when she was about 11. That was that! She never mentioned it to me. I wasn't going to stop her. If she was uncomfortable with hairy legs then I don't mind her shaving.

If your DD has voiced that she is self conscious about it then I would let her shave them. You can show her how and/or buy removal creams etc.

my primary school best friend was self conscious about her hair on her upper lip.. she did get bullied and it was awful. Her mum let her wax it.. it was the best thing she did! - we’re both 30 now and she still says about it.

Jesus

Gosh , 8 is so young to be worrying about this sort of thing - but I’d rather help her shave them than her not want to join in with activities etc. Imagine all your pals at a pool party or doing gymnastics and you being sat in the corner covered up because your hairy legs upset you.

"Let" her? Presumably you mean let her use a razor herself, but that you will help her until it's safe for her to do herself?

Surely you don't mean that you prefer for her to feel horribly self-conscious for a few years yet and possibly get teased for it at school?

I've never been able to understand why some parents recoil from the idea of their daughters shaving legs or pits or dealing with certain shapes and sizes of eyebrows.

It isn't a sexual awakening. It's an extension of the grooming you probably want your child to do regularly, like washing and brushing hair, having a bath or shower, brushing teeth, keeping fingernails neat and clean, and wearing clean underwear and socks every day.

Like it or not, hairy legs get commented on. You shouldn't expect a child to put up with mean comments because you won't acknowledge or deal with your insecurities around puberty.

Just out of interest - what kind of finish does an electric razor give?

Out of interest, what about girls with upper lip hair? DD11 is pale skinned, and not very dark haired but she's self conscious about it. We've been waxing a bit of her mono brow for a year or so which is fine, but having been through years of painful upper lip waxing myself I don't want her to have to do it. Also don't like the facial hair creams on sensitive skin. I was recently recommended a Flawless shaver thing for my upper lip which has been brilliant (after laser hair removal) - at what age is it ok to use this on DD do you think?

I'm fair skinned but dark haired. I have extremely hairy legs when I don't shave. My mum refused to let me shave my legs or underarms until tip my dance teacher stepped in at 13 years old. I was miserable and bullied about it at school. I haven't forgiven my mum for not allowing me to do it earlier. It has affected my mental health long term and I'm now mid forties. I would suggest that you allow her to shave her legs but only with your supervision and perhaps an electric shaver rather than razor.

If DD was a DS would you stop him from shaving off his moustache

No I thought not

I guess I can't get my head around whether or not it grows back thicker / more stubbly. I know it won't but I would hate her to turn around and say it's stubbly and that's worse and she wishes she'd just left it as it was!

I would let her start shaving at 8 if she feels self concious about them although at 8 I would do them for her.

So many replies! Thank you everyone for your input.
I guess I just felt 8 was so young to start on the endless cycle of shaving / stubble / hairy worries.
I feel sad that she's even thinking about it yet - she's just a little girl.
She has only mentioned it once in the bath, and just that she feels hairier than her friends - not that she's being bullied about it.
I guess if she mentions it again we'll work out a plan. I hadn't thought about an electric shaver as I've never used one - are they any good? Can anyone recommend one?
Also, who has children that let their Mum's wax their legs? DD moans when I brush her hair or have to pull a plaster off, she's never going to let me near her with hot wax!